Here is a a great opportunity for any local writers interested in historical fiction and writing for a new small Games company in Orange. This will give you an idea of what they are after:

"What I"m looking for is someone who can write historical fiction – in other words taking ancient culture, society, religion and mythology and melding it together into a story. I'm starting a small games company out of my home office and I'm looking for someone more talented then I am with a pen to help me write some historical fiction (ancient history). I'm looking for short stories that will fit in with my games characters and background, these will be published with my games rule book."

If you are interested, please send an email to writing@orange.nsw.gov.au and the Central West Writers' Centre will pass on your contact details.

If you search Google today you will see the heading relating to poet Henry Lawson's 146th birthday anniversary. We wonder what he would've thought of that worldwide exposure! Henry Lawson was born on June 17, 1867 on the Grenfell Goldfields and later lived near Gulgong/Mudgee, New South Wales. He wrote short stories and ballad-like poems, illuminating the lives of rural, working Australians. Lawson is often called Australia's "greatest writer." During the colonial period, he travelled extensively, and was frequently published in the Bulletin. He died impoverished in 1922. Happy Birthday Henry.

Definition: (Noun) Pool is a type of billiard game played with a long cue and balls on a felted table.

Think Paul Newman - The Hustler, The Colour of Money - Tom Cruise. Writing pieces are now being sought for a book about your experiences with the game of pool. Venues, prizes won, who taught you, friends, observations, reflections etc.

Write to: Pool Stories C/O 7A Crinan Street Hurlstone Park NSW 2193

Deadline is 30 June 2013. Reimbursement is possible - let them know what your story is worth.

And here is another MASSIVE OPPORTUNITY!!! Queensland Writers Centre (QWC) and Hachette Australia are proud to announce their 6th national program for fiction and non-fiction writers in 2013. Up to 10 emerging fiction and non-fiction writers will work with editors from Hachette Australia to develop high-quality manuscripts. The program will run for four days in Brisbane, Queensland. In the first two days, participants will each have an individual consultation with editors from Hachette Australia to receive feedback on their manuscript. During the four days, participants will also meet other publishing industry professionals such as literary agents, booksellers and established authors, and work on their manuscripts. The program will run 15 - 19 November, 2013. Hachette Australia does not guarantee publication of manuscripts selected for the program but reserves the first right to publish the selected manuscripts. Please read the full terms and conditions in the Application Form. KEY DATES 2013: Application Deadline: 5:00pm Monday 1 July; Short list notified: Monday 7 October; MS Development Retreat: Friday 15 – Tuesday 19 November. For details head to the Queensland Writers' Centre site: http://www.qwc.asn.au/help-for-writers/manuscript-development-programs/qwc-hachette-manuscript-development-program/

Okay writers. Opportunities like this do not come along very often. So please read the criteria carefully and if you have a project ready to go that matches - then go for it. Pantera Press aims to be known as a great new home for Australia's next generation of best-loved authors™. That means they want to discover, launch and nurture previously unpublished Australian writers... writers who, despite having more than one great book in them, and having a passion for writing, have not been able to get published. They are seeking books with wide appeal. For both fiction and non-fiction, they are looking for books with bestseller-potential and with strong, quality writing and style. For fiction the focus is on mass-market and popular books, that is, great stories that are riveting and well-written. For non-fiction, the focus is on books that foster ideas and debate. Please note they are NOT currently publishing picture or illustrated books, children's books, cookbooks, memoirs, autobiographies, biographies, self-help books, health and well being books, travel books, poetry, play scripts, short stories, compilations, novellas, chapter books, or books aimed at an audience younger than 15 years old. For all the details and requirements on how to make your submission go to: http://www.panterapress.com.au/fiction-and-non-fiction-how-to-submit. Get to it and Good Luck!

The State Library of NSW has opened nominations for the NSW Premier's History Awards 2013. According to NSW Premier Barry O'Farrell: "Fostering of scholarship in literature and history is central to civil society. Knowledge of who we are and where we have come from creates a richer, more tolerant and more confident society." The winners will be presented at an awards ceremony in September 2013. Administered by the State Library of NSW, in association with Arts NSW, the NSW Premier's History Awards offers prizes in five categories:

• Australian History Prize • General History Prize • New South Wales Community and Regional History Prize • Young People's History Prize • Multimedia History Prize

Total prize money in 2013 is $75,000 - $15,000 for each category.

All works nominated for the NSW Premier's History Awards 2013 must be published, produced or made publicly available between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013. For more information contact: Kate Butler, Senior Project Officer, Awards, State Library of NSW (02) 9273 1582, awards@sl.nsw.gov.au

The Aspiring Writers Mentorship Program is designed to encourage aspiring writers in their pursuit of creating fiction for children with a view to publication.The CBCA NSW Branch is delighted to again welcome Penguin as sponsor of the Charlotte Waring Barton Award for 2013.

Submissions are evaluated in one of three age categories: Junior (under fifteen years), Young Adult (fifteen to twenty years) and the Charlotte Waring Barton Award (over twenty years). The Entry Form has a category for indigenous people, who are encouraged to enter under this acknowledged classification.

Closing Date: Entries close on June 1st, each year.

The most promising script in each category is matched with an appropriate mentor. Suitable mentors are chosen according to the genre and subject matter of the winner's script. The winners are announced during Book Week by CBCA NSW.

For more details visit: nsw.cbca.org.au/pages/frustrated-writers

Submissions for the Kids Book Review Unpublished Picture Book Award close Monday 17 June The winner will receive $300, a manuscript appraisal and the chance to have their work viewed by Sue Whiting, Publishing Manager at Walker Books! Two runners-up will win $100 each, and a short manuscript appraisal. We also reserve the right to nominate highly commended authors (no prize). A feedback sheet is provided to every entrant, upon completion of the competition.

Manuscript submissions are for picture books of 500 words or less, no illustrations required. For submissions details and to get your entry in, head to http://www.kids-bookreview.com/2013/04/kbrs-2013-unpublished-picture-book.html Submissions must be sent by email by Monday 17 June 2013 at 11.59pm.

Join in Poetry in the Caves for a truly unique and memorable afternoon of words and music in the beautiful Jenolan Caves on Sun 19 May.

Poet and novelist, David Brooks hosts this magical event inside Jenolan's magnificent Cathedral Chamber. Performers include one of Ireland's finest poets, Dermot Healy, in the company of renowned Australian poet Bronwyn Lea, acclaimed Indigenous poet, Lionel Fogarty, and award winning singer-songwriter and poet, Kate Fagan. The afternoon begins with music from Kate Fagan and includes a special guest appearance from American poet Devin Johnston. The performance will be followed by wine and refreshment in Caves House. Those travelling by bus will be entertained on the journey by local poets Philip Hammial and Sandy Holmes.

Dermot Healy, a giant of contemporary Irish poetry, brings to his work a vast sea of influences, ranging from Robert Louis Stephenson to Sylvia Plath. He has written five anthologies of poetry and his awards include the Hennessy Award (1974 and 1976); the Tom Gallon Award (1983); the Encore Award (1995). He was the winner of the 2002 America Ireland Literary Award, in recognition of his contribution to Irish letters.

Kate Fagan (photo to right), award winning songwriter, poet and lecturer in literature at UWS, will read from her newest volume of poetry First Light, and will begin the afternoon by playing for the audience as they enter the cavernous space. Bronwyn Lea is an award-winning author. Her books include Flight Animals, The Other Way Out, and The Deep North. Her poems have been widely anthologised, appearing most recently in Thirty Australian Poets, Australian Poetry Since 1788, Sixty Classic Australian Poems, and The Penguin Anthology of Australian Poetry. In 2011 she was appointed the inaugural editor of the Australian Poetry Journal.

Lionel Fogarty, a Murri Man from Cherbourg in Queensland is an unashamedly political poet, motivated both by personal experiences – his brother died in police custody – and general injustices suffered by Indigenous people. His innovative way of using Aboriginal English has led to his work being described as surrealist, but it remains undoubtedly challenging and dynamic.

Devin Johnston from the US, will make a guest appearance. Fellow poet Forrest Gander described Devin, "While his lexicon is rich and particular, Johnston's line is severe, unadorned and keenly cut to measure out the subtle counterpointed music which so strongly marks these poems."

When: Sunday 19 May 3:30-5:30pm Audience need to assemble at the Great Arch at 3:00pm to walk into the Cathedral Chamber. The performance runs from 3:30 -4:30pm. Drinks and book signing in Caves House from 5:00-5:30pm. Cost: $60 event only / $75 including coach transport from Katoomba station return – places limited (no concession). Bookings: through Jenolan Caves ph. 1300 763 311.

Full Program information and Booking details: www.varuna.com.au

Check out this new blog: The Orange Post. It is an experiment in community, or as the media powers-to-be call, citizen journalism. The goal of the Orange Post is to give those who have always wanted to have a say, somewhere public to say it. In the publishing world it's envisaged that the Orange Post will become something like the Good Weekend insert in the SMH. A mix of news articles, recipes, reviews gardening and everything else that suits. The two main question asked by budding writers are; 1. Will I get paid? The answer is no, not yet anyway. As the Orange Post grows they may get to the point where they can start taking advertising and paying their writers but at the moment all the writers, and the founder, do so for the love of it. 2. How often will I need to write? That really does depend on you. Some writers submit two or more articles a week, some submit one every two weeks or so. Not sure if you're good enough? There is really only one way to find out. To begin writing for the Orange Post all you have to do is go online and complete the form and they will contact you. It's amazingly simple. Go to: http://orangepost.com.au/